Sixty-five women with a prospectively confirmed diagnosis of premenstr
ual syndrome (PMS) were subdivided on the basis of their scores on the
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) into high-depression and low-depressi
on groups and compared with 49 non-PMS control women on self-administe
red measures of coping and anxiety. The high-depression PMS group was
found to utilize significantly more avoidant coping styles in dealing
with stressors independent of the premenstrual phase. Implications for
treatment are discussed.